Longingly staring at the bed, I pout. “But I am tired.”
“We are also in danger.”
“Because he wants to marry me?”
“No, Erjy! Because of the boar with the human eyes! The vampire! And that awful boy carrying a sword about that is far too dangerous for him to wield! This is not a safe place!” Ágota claims her bag and stalks over to the window. Peering through the panes of glass, she frowns. “I will have to use a lot of magic to hide our flight, but there is a ley line over those hills, so I will be able to replenish what I expend. Put on your cloak. It is near the door.”
As I regard the pile of furniture, I consider arguing with Ágota. I was not lying about my exhaustion, but I also want to see Albrecht before we depart. I am completely enamored with him, and therefore, the castle does not seem as foreboding as before. Perhaps the boar with human eyes was an enemy of some sort. I had witnessed my own mother transforming evil men into wild boars. If we were closer to our former home, I would suspect the boar’s head over the mantle was one of those villainous men.
I start to open my mouth, an argument rapidly forming on my tongue before I notice the tears of frustration in Ágota’s eyes. Instantly, my heart softens. How difficult it must be for her to be entrusted with my care as we journey through treacherous mountains, forests, and fey territories when she is barely a young woman. Though I never thought we would be in danger from mortals, I realize how mistaken I had been. She is burdened with my mortality. I am shamed by this revelation.
I sigh in surrender and don my cloak.
“Come now.” Ágota insistently holds out her hand and I reluctantly take it.
Holding her fingers against the window panes, she closes her eyes. The glass dissolves beneath her touch and flows like water over the stone façade of the castle. Cold air swirls through the narrow opening, chilling me to the bone. Ágota steps onto the narrow windowsill and gazes upward into the darkened sky. The air quivers as her magic begins to build.
“Leaving in the middle of the night is very rude.” Dominique swings into view and regards us with a cross look. She hangs upside down on the outer wall of the castle with her long blonde braid swaying in the wind.
Ágota grunts with annoyance. “I should have known you were spying.”
“Yes, you should have. But you are a young and naïve. I am old and cunning. Back into the room with you. Wirich has bestowed his hospitality upon you and it would be very bad form to leave. You did promise to deliver his message to your father.”
“He wants one of us to marry his insipid son,” Ágota retorts.
“Marriage is a political game among the wealthy, titled, and powerful. You should know this, but I suspect you have lived quite a long time away from your father. You have none of the manners of the well-born.” Dominique crawls along the wall as she speaks. She reminds me of a spider with her arms and legs stretched with her head tilted at an inhuman angle.
Ágota watches the vampire warily. “I will not have it. I certainly will not marry him and neither will my sister .”
“Deliver the letter to your father, Ágota. Allow him to make an allegiance with Wirich. Your father will most likely need it with the upheaval in the Kingdom of Hungary. Besides, have you considered your sister may like being a noblewoman? A countess with her own castle?”
Ágota gives me a sharp look as I attempt to stifle any sign of excitement in my features.
“You brought us here to be broodmares,” Ágota says crossly.
“I brought you here to assist a friend that I care for dearly. He desires to renew the magic in his bloodline. You have to understand how important that is to him. Can you imagine sensing the wells of untamed magic around you, yet being unable to wield it? He does not want that for his grandchildren.” Dominique pushes Ágota back from the window.
To my surprise, my sister allows this action.
Perching in the window, Dominique regards us with her dark blue eyes. “Besides, you cannot leave. If you do, The White Woman of the Wood will curse you for violating your promise. You may not be in her territory, but you are in the home of a member of her family. I am keeping you from a terrible fate.”
“What fate is that?” I ask boldly.
“Being turned into a boar, hunted, and eaten at a great feast,” Dominique replies.
“The boar over the mantle…” Ágota’s voice is hard. “Who was it?”
“Wirich’s uncle. On the mortal side of his family tree. His uncle decided to claim his title and lands for himself. The White Woman of the Wood intervened. So you see… it is really best you stay in this room. Tomorrow, you can depart for your home.”
Ágota grunts with annoyance. “With a letter of introduction to my father that I will be able to read first, correct?”
Dominique grins. “Much better than being a boar, is it not?”
“I hate you,” Ágota growls.
“One day, we will be friends. I promise.” Dominique reaches out and lightly pinches my cheek. “Such a pretty little girl. One day you will be a beautiful woman. Albrecht will be pleased.”
“She will not marry him,” Ágota fiercely declares.